A blog dedicated to coverage of rock news, reviews of CD's/DVD's, live gigs and interviews with musicians who have made rock music great!
Coverage of hard rock, classic rock, AOR and popular melodic rock music across the genre.
This blog is the creation of Alun Williams, a Brit now living in Michigan whose previous credits include writing for the following sites:
www.classicrock.about.com
www.classicrockrevisited.com
and www.rocknrolluniverse.com (Now gone)
I hope you enjoy your visit here!

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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Brief News Update for Thursday 3rd March, 2011

MÖTLEY CRÜE TO HEADLINE SUMMER TOUR WITH

SUPPORT FROM POISON AND SPECIAL GUESTS

NEW YORK DOLLS

SUMMER’S BIGGEST ROCK TOUR KICKS OFF JUNE 7TH IN DALLAS;

TICKETS ON SALE STARTING MARCH 11TH

Los Angeles, CA (March, 2011) – Mötley Crüe, one of the world’s most iconic rock bands, have announced initial details today for their summer headlining tour with support from Poison and special guests New York Dolls (not to be confused with Poison’s solo tour, “Glam-A-Geddon 25”).

The official announcement by Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and New York Dolls’David Johansen was made on the syndicated radio show, Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx Tuesday March 1st at 7:00pm local time (check http://www.sixxsense.com/ for a list of stations).

Additionally, the announcement can be heard on SixxSense.com, iheartradio and on the new Sixx Sense XM

161 Channel.

The trek will kick off June 7th in Dallas, TX and hit approximately 40 cities before coming to a close in early August. Tickets will be available to fan club members beginning March 11th and a national on sale starts the weekend of March 18th. All tour information can be found at http://www.motley.com/

Mötley Crüe has played to millions of fans around the world, adding this summer’s tour to recent successful outings including Crüe Fest 1 and 2 taking out such notables as Sixx:AM, Godsmack, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Theory Of A Deadman and many others. For ticket and tour information and information about Mötley Crüe, please visit: http://www.motley.com/

Multi-platinum Canadian rockers Loverboy reunite with legendary producer/engineer Bob Rock for two new singles, “Heartbreaker” and “No Tomorrow”

LOS ANGELES, March 1, 2011—For 30 years, Loverboy has been “Working for the Weekend,” delighting audiences around the world since forming in Calgary, Alberta, when vocalist Mike Reno was introduced to local guitar hot shot Paul Dean, both veterans of several bands on the scene. And now they’re back, having reunited with their original engineer, legendary producer Bob Rock [Metallica, Aerosmith, The Cure, Bon Jovi], who worked under Bruce Fairbairn at the time. The band recorded two new songs with Rock, “Heartbreaker” and “No Tomorrow,” which could to be a prelude for a new album.

“He phoned Mike and me out of the blue and told us he had a song that might work for us that he’d love to produce,” says Dean. “He sent it over and we just flipped out. It’s a great, kick-ass Loverboy song.

“It was just fantastic to be on the same page with everybody else in the band again. We had been through several false starts recording-wise over the years. Mike was really inspired this time. It was a great experience. I think these tracks are some of the best work we’ve ever done.”

Not just Canada’s greatest rock export, Loverboy made its mark south of the border, with four multi-platinum albums including the four-million-selling Get Lucky, and a trio of double-platinum releases in their self-titled 1980 debut, 1983’s Keep It Up and 1985’s Lovin’ Every Minute of It.

Their string of hits includes, in addition to the anthem “Working for the Weekend,” such arena rock staples as “Lovin’ Every Minute of It,” “This Could Be the Night,” “Hot Girls in Love,” “Heaven In Your Eyes,” “Turn Me Loose,” “When It’s Over,” and “Queen of the Broken Hearts.”

Their pop culture credibility was cemented by a recent 30 Rock episode in which Scott Adsit’s amateur musician Pete Hornberger revealed he was actually Loverboy’s original bassist, showing him inserted into vintage ‘80s footage of the band wailing away on “Working for the Weekend,” which you can see at http://www.hulu.com/watch/217096/30-rock-its-never-too-late-for-now

The group still includes original members Doug Johnson on keyboards and Matt Frenette on drums, with Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve (a former member of Dean and Frenette’s pre-Loverboy band Streetheart), who replaced the late Scott Smith on bass, and continues a healthy touring schedule around the world.

“I look at our concerts as a 100-minute experience,” says Dean, who still claims to be able to fit into the same pair of red leather pants he wore on the “Queen of the Broken Hearts” video in 1983. “I’m a normal guy up until 10 minutes before we hit the stage. Then the heart rate goes up and I consciously step into the bubble. And I don’t come out of it until 30 seconds after that last cymbal smash and I walk off-stage. It’s a great stress release, better than riding a Harley.”

Perhaps the band’s most famous song is “Working for the Weekend,” which has fueled a generation’s dreams of toiling every day for the chance to celebrate come Friday night. Dean realizes it has taken on a whole new meaning these days.

“You’re lucky if you can work for the weekend now,” he says. “We’re all fortunate to be doing that.”

With four decades under his belt, Dean sees no end in sight for Loverboy… or himself.

“My dream has always been to play guitar and entertain people,” he enthuses. “There’s no feeling like looking out in the audience and seeing them grinning ear to ear, everyone on the same wavelength. And once we start with the megahits, the place goes crazy. That’s why we do what we do and will continue.”

Still “Working for the Weekend” 30 years later, Loverboy’s catalog includes some of arena-rock’s most enduring anthems, and they are about to add to that legacy.

THE RODS SUPPORT FORTHCOMING RELEASE, 'VENGEANCE,' WITH UPCOMING TEXAS APPEARANCES

Most well-versed metalheads will be very familiar with the Rods and their contribution to heavy metal. Such classic albums as 1981's 'The Rods' and 1982's 'Wild Dogs' fit perfectly in with the sound of the burgeoning "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" scene (despite the fact that the Rods were New York natives!), and resulted in shows with such big-time acts as Iron Maiden, the Scorpions, Twisted Sister, and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as taking a then-unknown Metallica out as support on the Rods' first headlining tour.

Now, Texas fans will be able to not only catch the Rods in full concert flight, but also get to the meet the band at a record store appearance. On March 19, the band (singer/guitarist David "Rock" Feinstein, bassist Garry Bordonaro, and drummer Carl Canedy) will be performing, meeting fans and signing merchandise at Cheapo Records in Austin at 11:00 am. Then, later in the evening (10:15 pm, to be exact), the band will be performing at Rusty Spurs in Austin (as part of the SXSW Festival).

The Rods in store performance.

3/19/11 - 11:00 AM - Cheapo Records

914 N. Lamar

Austin, TX 78703

512-477-4499

The Rods in concert:

3/19/11 - 10:15 P.M.- Rusty Spurs

(512) 482-9002

405 E 7th St

Austin, TX 78701

May 10 will see the official release of 'Vengeance,' a recording that includes the first single "The Code," featuring lead vocals from Feinstein's cousin, Ronnie James Dio (which was one of the very last songs Ronnie ever recorded, before his passing last year). 'Vengeance' will be released via the Niji Entertainment Group, and comes hot on the heels of Feinstein's recently-released solo album, 'Bitten by the Beast.' 2011 also marks the 30 year anniversary for this veteran metal band.

As renowned Quiet Riot/Ozzy/Dio/Whitesnake/Blue Oyster Cult bassist Rudy Sarzo remembers, "The Rods opened up for Ozzy during the 1981 'Blizzard Of Oz' tour. I was blown away by their no holds barred metal onslaught performance and became an instant fan!"

With a full US tour planned for the summer, fans will soon be able to experience the mighty metal of the Rods first hand themselves.

If there wouldn't be enough new Gary Moore releases on way for 2011, here is something very special! Something that we are waiting for years now that somebody will make it. Jörgen Holmstedt has informed our website about the Gary Moore documentary film, what will be ready to airing sometime next year. Those lucky ones who can attend the 25th Annual Vibe For Philo in Dublin on the 4th of January 2011, will be able to watch a long preview of this independent film.

Jörgen and Stefan Mossberg has been working on it for years now. It features Don Airey, Jon Hiseman, John Sykes, Brian Downey, Eric Bell, Brian Robertson and Gary Moore himself of course. At the moment it seems that "White Knuckles and Blue Moods" will be around an hour long. Watch this space for more info....

(New York, NY) - Guitar god Zakk Wylde and his Black Label Society have joined forces with premiere video channel Fuse to bring the most intense metal to the masses with the Uranium Tour 2011 Presented By Mistress Juliya.

Black Label Society will headline the North American trek with support from All That Remains and Hail The Villain; Rev Theory will appear on the bill for June dates in place of All That Remains. The tour is sponsored by Fuse, House Of Blues and Right Arm Entertainment and marks the return of Fuse's "Uranium" brand.

Fuse VJ Mistress Juliya commented, "You wanted it? You got it! It is my absolute honor, to announce the return of my beloved metal brand Uranium in the form of a bad-ass tour! In typical Uranium fashion, we bring you BLS, All That Remains, and Hail the Villain. Need I say more?" Right Arm Entertainment Co-President Gary Spivack added, "We are so excited to be partnering up with House Of Blues and Mistress Juliya of Fuse to bring the great rock name of Uranium back. To have Black Label Society, All That Remains and Hail The Villain on board is a perfect way to relaunch Uranium. Can't wait for this tour to start!"

After a well-documented time of trials and tribulations, 2010 was an incredible year for Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society. Early in the year, Wylde received the "Best Guitarist" Award at the Revolver 2010 Golden God Awards Presented By Epiphone. In August, the first new Black Label Society album in four years was released. ORDER OF THE BLACK (Entertainment One Music) debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart, while Wylde graced the covers of both Revolver and Guitar World. Immediately following the release of ORDER OF THE BLACK, Black Label Society headlined the second stage of 2010's Ozzfest and then went on to headline Wylde's own package tour, Berzerkus, which also featured Children Of Bodom and Clutch.